☝️ Key Points
- The song deals with the singer's futile attempts to reconcile after a fight with his lover.
- The repeated phrase 'Return to Sender' symbolizes the inability to restore contact with his ex-lover.
- The singer is so desperate that he plans to deliver the letter personally.
- If the letter keeps coming back, he will eventually understand that she is not willing to reconcile.
- The song presents a sad depiction of failure and disappointment in love.
Interpretation
The song "Return to Sender" by
Elvis Presley is a melancholic story about a man trying to reconcile after a fight with his lover, but his letters keep getting returned to him. The phrase "Return to Sender, address unknown. No such number, no such zone" suggests that his attempts to reach her have been unsuccessful, either because she has moved or because she simply returns his letters unopened. The singer is desperate and eventually decides to deliver the letter in person ("This time I'm gonna take it myself and put it right in her hand."). If the letter still comes back, he will understand that she is not willing to reconcile ("And if it comes back the very next day then I'll understand the writing on it"). Overall, the song is a sad portrayal of failure and disappointment in romantic relationships.